Mechanical circulatory assistance with intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation for major abdominal surgery.

Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABC) provides effective mechanical circulatory assistance (MCA) in many patients with cardiac disease characterized by low cardiac output and/or myocardial ischemia. The intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) has been used almost exclusively in the care of patients with cardiac disease as their primary medical disorder. This report presents use of the IABP in three cases where cardiac disease was present, but abdominal pathology necessitating urgent surgical intervention was the primary medical concern. Experience with these three cases suggest that operative and early postoperative use of IABC in patients with documented heart disease undergoing major non-cardiac surgical procedures may reduce the high incidence of cardiac complications.